ECFA has presented their annual ECFA Awards for Best European Children’s Film, Best European Doc Award and Best European Short Award at the European Children’s Film Community Party during the Berlinale on 9 February, 2019.
The ECFA Award for Best European Children’s Film went to SUPA MODO directed by Likarion Wainana (Germany / Kenya). The film that premiered in 2018 in the Berlinale’s Generation+ Section tells the story of nine year old Jo, who copes with her terminal illness like a real superhero. The runners up were I AM WILLIAM by Jonas Elmer (Denmark) and LOS BANDO by Christian Lo (Norway).
The ECFA Doc Award 2019 was handed out to LENNO & THE ANGELFISH by director Shamira Raphaëla (The Netherlands).
In 2019 ECFA launched a third award. The very first ECFA Short Award for Best European Young Audience Short Film went to FRUITS OF CLOUDS directed Katerina Karkankova (Czech Republic).
For every award representatives were in attendance at the ceremony to collect prizes. All of them stated to be delighted and honoured to receive the award. (read their reactions elsewhere in this newsletter)
Throughout 2018, 18 different children’s film festivals hosted an ECFA Award jury, adding one title to ECFA’s shortlist. Margret Albers, President of ECFA: “These three awarded films are in very different ways proof of courage and curiosity. They show how the abilities and needs of the young audience are often underestimated. As part of an industry that strives for more co-creation, ECFA is proud to facilitate a platform that strengthens generation-equality. In organising the ECFA Award, ECFA Doc and ECFA Short Award, ECFA wants to shine a spotlight on the variety and richness of European quality children’s film production, and the critical open-mindedness of our young audience.”